My mobile buzzed on the table. Picking it up, Hunter was texting me to let me know he was sitting outside, waiting—It was seven on the dot.

A bubbling rush of excitement burst through my stomach before inevitably heading lower causing my thighs to clench, but something else stirred deep inside me.

She felt it too.

And she whined and whimpered, sending ripples of raw need through my mind. I'd never known her this excited or curious to know what dwelled inside.

Or maybe she just wanted out? She hadn't stretched her legs for over two weeks.

"If you settle down, then I promise you can come out at the weekend."

She growled at me. Actually growled—That's a first! But I didn't have time to figure out what it meant as I inhaled a long slow breath, grabbed my clutch and took one last look at my reflection on the way out.

This is work. This is work.

I had to keep repeating it as I made my way down to meet him. Stepping from the elevator, I noted the expensive Bentley Continental convertible car parked directly outside the door to my apartment building—that wasn't allowed.

Either you parked inside the underground parking area or you had to use the visitor bays.

Without seeing the driver, I knew it was Hunter Stone's car. I doubted anybody told him what to do.

"Good evening Mike," I said to our doorman as he opened the door for me.

He eyed Hunter's car suspiciously before he turned and smiled at me. "Is the gentleman with you Miss Dufrene?"

"Yes, Mike." Colour bled into cheeks. "I'm sorry that he's ignored the rule of parking. He hasn't been here before."

Mike tipped his head. "No problem. You have a good evenin', Miss Dufrene," he replied.

Right. This is it. Business face. Breathe and relax.

My thoughts were cut off as I watched him get out of the car. He looked, oh my...breathtaking.

Mon Dieu!

My body temperature soared as if dropped into a pot of boiling water. And even though oxygen surrounded me, it was as if it wasn't available to me—I couldn't breathe.

Stopping abruptly, my hand gripped my clutch tighter as I took in the full sight of him; slowly consuming the image. I felt every single goosebump pop as they flooded my bare arms.

He was dressed in a tailored black suit, with a black shirt beneath with the top button open.

Simply divine.

Never and I mean, never! Had a man looked so good in a suit? It fit him like a second skin.

His head of dark brown hair was styled tonight and slicked back and I wanted to run my fingers through it, rough it up a little, make it sexy messy like this morning.

His mouth twitched before he smiled that amazing smile of his. He looked so mouth-wateringly sexy, that my insides were at melting point.

Stop staring; idiote.

My stomach was doing an Olympic sprint, as he slammed his car door shut and began walking towards me. He dragged his teeth across his bottom lip as his eyes raked over the length of me. I shivered even though it was a warm night; a very warm night.

He stopped right in front of me and ran his hand across his chin, shaking his head, and letting out a puff of air. "Fuck me. You look perfect. In my head, I knew you would be, but fuckin' hell you go above and beyond what's inside my head, yeah?" he said.

Mon Dieu! His voice sounded so sexy and rough. My breath hitched as my flush spilt over my cheeks and down my throat.

Breathe in, out. Then what he said registered with my frazzled brain.

He had thought about me and what I would look like tonight... in his head.

I shivered again but this time the heat converged in just one spot.

Pearl was right. I was in so much trouble!

Raising my hand to my mouth, I faked a slight cough, whilst my eyes wandered down his body to be greeted with his erection. Mon Dieu. Was this man permanently hard? Or was I anything to do with it?

As much as that thought was so wrong—I liked the idea that I might be the cause of his hardness. This beautiful man, hard for me and we hadn't even touched...yet.

Forcing my eyes back up to his. Words would be useful right now. Instead of drooling —but could anyone blame me? Sex on a stick as Pearl would no doubt say.

And the way he looked at me, confident, so sure of himself. Get Real Sage. Of course, he's sure of himself. The man's probably bedded most of London...and beyond.

That thought was sobering. I would be nothing more than a notch on his belt.

I glanced down again, my eyebrow quirking...it was a very nice belt though.

Jésus Christ. Focus!

"Miss Dufrene... Sage," he corrected himself and I shook myself from my inner turmoil. Which was difficult as the way my name rolled from his tongue felt so natural, and oh so right.

"Yes?" I asked.

Thank the Lord, my voice sounded normal, calm in fact—Well done me!

"Ready? You look ready. Yeah?"

Again, his eyes shifted over me, head to toe and then back up.

"Is the red dress to your satisfaction?" I asked. Not sure why, but suddenly I needed this reassurance from him. And for the first time in my life. I felt a little sad I couldn't read him, get inside his head.

I raised my eyebrows, tilting my head, waiting for his response—another first for me.

He took a moment to look at me. His tongue poked out a little and his eyes narrowed. Maybe I didn't need to get inside his head to hear this thoughts.

Devour.

And I wanted to be devoured by this man and swiftly my wolf stirred again, pushing her thoughts into my own. She wanted the same.

"You look beautiful, stunning in fact, and hot as hell. Perfect. I've seen no woman wear a red dress as well as you're wearing that one," he said gently shaking his head again.

Both me and my wolf swooned.

Bloody hell. He was smooth, I'd give him that.

But reality came knocking. "Do you say that to all your employees?" My tone was playful as well as curious.

He shrugged, neither uncomfortable nor remorseful for his words. "I say what I think, especially when I see something I like...really like."

What could I say to that? I swallowed and held his gaze for another few seconds. "Oui, yes. I'm ready Hunter."

"This way then." He reached around me, placing his hand on the bottom of my spine, splaying his fingers in a possessive manner. My temperature went up another degree. I would burn up from the inside out at this rate.

He walked me towards his car and swiftly opened the passenger door. I tried as gracefully as I could to ease myself into his sports car. "Beautiful car," I said to distract myself.

"Cheers, glad you like it." His tone wasn't brag, as I looked up to see him give me another of his thigh-clenching smiles. "But you looking like you do, this car pales in comparison," he said, like it was a fact.

My insides quivered and I gulped. I'm so screwed.

He held my eyes for a few seconds before he closed the door and walked around to the driver's side. Whilst still looking at me, licking his lips.

He slipped into the driver's seat with minor effort. It truly was a beautiful car. Not as beautiful as him—but beautiful, nevertheless. "I thought you would have had a driver?"

He pressed the ignition before turning to me. "I usually do, but I wanted it just to be the two of us, no distractions, yeah."

He wanted it just to be the two of us. I wasn't sure how that made me feel.

Who I am kidding?

It made me feel weaker, and I knew at that second if he tried to kiss me—I wouldn't stop him. Hell, I wanted to pull him towards me and kiss him. I swallowed again; my throat abruptly so dry that I instinctively licked my lips. I watched, mesmerised, as he twisted in his seat and moved towards me.

Holy wolfsbane; is he going to kiss me?

He looked at my lips and I swear I was about to combust. But then he reached past me and took hold of the seat belt, slowly edging it across my body. "Safety first, yeah?" He raised an eyebrow as his top lip curled into a devilish and oh so earth-shattering sexy grin.

Mon Dieu, My heart was beating so fast I was sure it would explode any second. "So where is this function?"

"At the De Vere Grand, Covent Garden. We don't have to stay long. I just need to show my face."

"Oh, I adore that building, but a little extravagant and expensive. What's the function in aid of... Charity?" I had attended a wedding there two months ago. It was very upmarket and exclusive.

"Looking at where you live, I think you must be accustomed to flash and extravagant places." He pulled away from my apartment building as I blushed, looking up towards where Pearl and I lived. Yes, it was fair to say Grosvenor House was an expensive and sought-after location in London. And it was all thanks to my generous grandfather.

"And here was me thinking it would be easy to impress you," he said as he turned and winked at me.

He was trying to impress me?

Again, I wasn't sure how to respond to that, so I didn't.

"And yeah, it's a charity event, something we throw every year."

Fifteen minutes later we pulled up outside the De Vere. He left his car running as he exited the car, leaving his door open. He held up his hand to the attendant walking towards his car to open my door. "Got it, pal," he said to the young-looking man, as he reached my side and opened my door.

He held out his hand and helped me out. I took it and marvelled as his hand engulfed mine and the heat it radiated.

Standing straight, he released my hand, and I adjusted my dress, my hand still tingling from his skin-to-skin contact.

"Ready?" he asked with a boy-like grin on his face. Oh my. He pulled off adorable and well as sexy hot with little effort. His mouth had many talents. I nodded my head, and he threw his keys towards the attendant.

"Mr Stone," said the attendant, tipping his head respectfully as he caught his keys.

Again, he placed his hand at the bottom of my spine and led us inside.

He led us into one of the Grand Connaught rooms. Its enormous glass chandeliers hung magnificently from the high ornate ceiling. The room was packed with so many people, each one dressed immaculately, chatting between themselves. I recognised quite a few of the faces. Faces of the women who worked for him and they all seemed to glare at me.

Oh boy, this was going to be fun!

Hunter led us further into the room as he nodded towards people who turned to greet him.

We had been there less than two minutes when a tall, extremely beautiful woman, also in a drop-dead gorgeous red dress walked towards us. She could have been a model. I didn't recognise her from the office. She flicked her long blonde hair over one shoulder as she pushed out her chest. Her tan seemed a little over the top and I knew she would regret exposing her skin to that much sun in years to come.

I felt his hand go from the base of my spine to around my waist as he brought me closer to him.

Her eyes looked me over and even with my blocker up, I knew what she was thinking and feeling. She didn't like me—at all.

"Hunter," she said in a sickly sweet Cheltenham accent. I felt throw up in my mouth.

"Scarlett," he said casually, not at all phased by the look she was giving him.

Scarlett? She was called Scarlett, and she wore a red dress. How cliché.

Jeez, when did I become a bitch?

I didn't like her. She looked at him like she already knew what he looked like naked. I felt it then, something I had never felt before in my entire life. Jealously, that green-eyed monster that I had experienced from so many people—but this time, it wasn't coming from someone else, it came from me.

My wolf didn't like it either, her possessive thoughts assaulted my mind. 'Mine,' she growled.

What? Mine?

Her growl deepened as a spine-tingling sensation tweaked each vertebra on the way down curling its way around my front, seeping into my stomach.

'Scarlett' Ignored my presence and pressed her lips on Hunter's right cheek before kissing the left. I stiffened. I couldn't help it. I wanted to push her away, and my wolf wanted to rip chunks out of her.

What in God's name was happening to me?

"Where have you been hiding yourself? I've missed you," she said and giggled whilst fluttering her long heavy mascaraed eyelashes at him. Hell, if she fluttered them any more they would take off.

I felt physically sick. Stop it, he doesn't belong to us.

'Mine.' My wolf repeated.

Hunter pulled me closer. "I've been busy, Scarlett," was his reply.

And it was terrible to say, but I felt better that he pulled me closer.

She looked at me, her lips pursing slightly before she smiled turning back to Hunter. "You must come to my new home. I'm having a little housewarming soiree soon and it wouldn't be a party if you weren't there."

I couldn't help myself, I rolled my eyes.

"Email the dates and I'll get back to you if Sage and I are free, yeah?" he said.

Me...was he suggesting 'we' would go to her party? As in together?

He looked my way and his lips curled into that sexy smirk of his, before raising a quizzical eyebrow at me.

My mouth dropped open slightly, I was speechless.

Scarlett's mouth also formed a perfect O she too was surprised.

"Scarlett, let me introduce you to Miss Sage Dufrene. Sage this is Scarlett Monroe." He didn't take his eyes off me.

I swallowed. "Nice to meet you, Scarlett." It wasn't.

Her lips formed a tight line, and I knew it would kill her to say the next words from her mouth. I was also tempted to drop my blocker so I could feel them too.

"Yes, lovely to meet you Sage and you're quite welcome to come along. It's always nice to meet another of Hunter's lady friends."

Ouch! That hurt and I was dragged back to reality. Stiffening, he squeezed my waist tighter. I needed to excuse myself. "I need to pay a visit to the lady's room—if you will both excuse me."

He tilted his head but nodded once.

I felt his hand slip from my waist and was surprised by the sudden coldness.

As we weaved through the crowds my wolf kept on repeating mine.

Did she think he was our mate?

Could that be a possibility?

No, that was crazy.

Making my way through the crowds into the bathroom, I locked myself into a cubicle. Leaning against the door, the coldness against the top of my bare shoulders felt soothing.

Closing my eyes, I inhaled a few deep breaths, talking some sense into myself. Reminding myself why I was here, although that wasn't clear yet.

He's not my boyfriend; this is not a date and he is NOT our mate —so you can pipe down in there!

Again, my wolf growled, disgusted by my thoughts. I turned just about to unlock my cubicle door when I heard what sounded like the thunderous clapping of heels on the tiled floor.

"Heavens, did you see Hunter, with that woman? Who the hell is she?" I heard one ask.

I stood back from the door pulling my hand from the latch as if burned.

"She won't last long," another woman said.

"You're just jealous because she's beautiful."

That made me feel a little better—not all bitches then.

"C'mon you know what he's like, he goes through women faster than he goes through underwear, it's disgusting, honestly."

"Yeah, but you didn't say that when he had you bent over Daddy's new leather sofa, and let's be honest here, you would go running if he called, and drop your expensive lace underwear quicker than grease lightening! Wouldn't you?"

She laughed. "Damn Straight, hell he could do whatever he liked with me. I remember exactly every moment of that night, he was the best fuck I've ever had and I couldn't walk for days."

They all laughed, and my stomach fell to the floor. I was going to be sick. Why on earth did I think I would be something special or any different to all these other women? He had women throwing themselves and their underwear at him. Stupid, stupid!

I unlatched the door and all three faces turned towards me. I held my head high and walked towards the mirror, washing my hands whilst ignoring their obvious glares. Shaking the excess water from my hands, I reached for the dryer. The loudness was welcome, muffling their obvious whispers. It was tempting to get inside their heads and leave them with an image of me and Hunter in a comprising position—but I didn't.

Still holding my head high, I walked past them and out the door. Not wanting to head back to the principal room, looking left I walked towards the balcony and opened the double doors, stepping outside into the fresh evening air. The sun was setting, and I finally felt like I could breathe for the first time tonight.

Minutes later I felt a warm hand on my back as I turned, he stood next to me.

Holy wolfsbane, he found me!

"I've shown my face, now let's get out of here," he said.

My mouth parted, but no words came.

"You hungry, I'm hungry... yeah?" His eyes raked over me again. Oh yeah, he looked hungry.

I blinked then nodded my head. You most certainly won't be eating me, Mr Stone!